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Part of the British invasion fleet bound for the Gold Juno and Sword Normandy beaches seen here on the morning of D-day from the cliffs overlooking Folkestone. Destroyers of the Royal Navy lay a smoke screen to hide the fleet from the French coast (Image: Gold Juno and Sword Normandy beaches)

Alfred as a young soldier (Image: Manchester Evening News)

Alfred is devastated at the loss of his medals (Image: Manchester Evening News)

He said: "I have found it all very distressing. These medals are worth very little to sell but to me they are priceless.

"I had intended to pass all of my medals on to my grandson which makes it even more upsetting.

"My grandson and friends in the local Normandy Veterans Association have been fantastic in making contact with all possible options to see if they've turned up but so far we've had nothing.

"That's why I want to get the message out to anyone who may have found or seen them.

"It would make my birthday if I was able to have them back again."

He is offering a reward to anyone who is able to help return the medals to him.

Mr Barlow started receiving support from Blind Veterans UK after losing his sight through macular degeneration and glaucoma much later in life and is asking for anyone with information on the return of the medals to contact the sight loss charity on the free Blind Veterans UK hotline on 0800 389 7979.